Thursday, November 5, 2009

Richard Garet & Brendan Murray - Of Distance

Two specialists in channeling urban perceptions into sounds designed to induce synaesthetic responses, join forces to release a splendid CD for the ambitious Unframed, young label concerned with modern forms of experimentation and sound art.We previously posted about Brendan Murray (here), highlighting his ability in moulding products of digital processes on spatial dimensions by applying the principle of repetition.The same is to be said for Richard Garet, who moves since some years into an intriguing visionary territory of sound exploration. Garet's fields of artistic expression are visual performances, sound installations and, of course, recordings on labels such as Non Visual Objects, Winds Measure Recordings, Leerraum [ ] and WHITE_LINE EDITIONS (the most recent one).

"Of Distance" is a two-track collaboration, accomplished some months ago, to be viewed as a phase of a longer artistic connection, and that we could easily classify as one of the most impressive discs heard this year. No doubts about a positive interaction between the two protagonists, but the result is simply superb.

The first piece, “In Parallel”, 27 minutes long, is a perfect example of how to wisely assemble dronescapes, environmental recordings and looped effects: it opens with a rumbling echo permeated by metallic veins; its surface is wounded at regular intervals by a noisy pattern. Around the fifth minute the basis structure passes into hissing streams and, afterwards, field recordings make the scene, move forward, remove everything else.Another change of state, even more decisive, in the central segment: different layers of sequential pulses which collide with a solid substrate, and, finally, the ambience becomes darker, upset by resounding timbres and persistent hisses.

"The Tyranny Of The Objects", the second track, features a more uniform framework: a flowing stream as road where repeated intrusions coming from various sources walk, sometimes run, wander around aimlessly, suddenly leave it… and only a tinkling survives…

Refined work, conceived with a particular care for details, so much attractive that it wouldn't be wrong to number “Of Distance” among the best discs of the year and, definitely, the best of the genre.

Label: UnframedCat. #: UFCD2Format: CDRelease date: 2009

Tracklisting:01 - In Parallel (27:00)02 - The Tyranny Of The Objects (19:39)